A 90-YEAR-OLD man has been airlifted to hospital after being cut free from his overturned car.

His legs got trapped when he came off the road and his car rolled on to its side into a ditch in Shieldhill Road in Quothquan, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to remove the roof of the car, allowing paramedics to treat the man and release him from the vehicle. He was flown to Wishaw General Hospital where he said to be in a stable condition.

The lead firefighter at the scene praised the man, who was travelling alone, for remaining calm while he has trapped.

Incident commander Peter Hill said: "Being trapped inside a car on its side is obviously a stressful situation for anyone to be in, but this gentleman was alert and talking throughout the operation.

"He made an immediate, positive impression on those working to release him and everyone involved wishes him a full and speedy recovery.

"The emergency services often work together and this incident is a clear example of the effective partnership between firefighters and ambulance personnel."

In the wake of the crash, the fire service urged drivers to take care when travelling in heavy rain.

"With spray causing reduced visibility and stopping distances much greater due to water on the surface, we need everyone to take sensible measures to prevent a tragedy," a spokesman said.